DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0108
106 <A Serious Call to
Chapter XII.
The happiness of a life wholly devoted unto
God, further proved, from the vanity, the
sensuality, and the ridiculous, poor enjoy-
ments, which they are forced to take up
with, who live according to their own
humours. This represented in various
characters.
WE may still see more of the happiness of a life de
voted unto God, by considering the poor con-
trivances for happiness, and the contemptible ways
of life, which they are thrown into, who are not
under the directions of a strict piety, but seeking
after happiness by other methods.
If one looks at their lives, who live by no rule but their own
humours and fancies ; if one sees but what it is, which they call
joy, and greatness, and happiness ; if one sees how they rejoice,
and repent, change and fly from one delusion to another; one
shall find great reason to rejoice, that God hath appointed a
strait and narrow way, that leadeth unto life, and that we are
not left to the folly of our own minds, or forced to take up with
such shadows of joys and happiness, as the weakness and folly
of the world has invented. I say invented, because those things
which make up the joy and happiness of the world are mere
inventions, which have no foundation in nature and reason, are
no way the proper good or happiness of man, no way perfect
either in his body, or his mind, or carry him to his true end.
As for instance, when a man proposes to be happy in ways of
ambition, by raising himself to some imaginary heights above
other people; this is truly an invention of happiness, which has
no foundation in nature, but is as mere a cheat, of our own
making, as if a man should intend to make himself happy by
climbing up a ladder.
If a woman seeks for happiness from fine colours or spots upon
her face, from jewels and rich clothes, this is as merely an inven-
tion of happiness, as contrary to nature and reason, as if she
should propose to make herself happy, by painting a post, and
Chapter XII.
The happiness of a life wholly devoted unto
God, further proved, from the vanity, the
sensuality, and the ridiculous, poor enjoy-
ments, which they are forced to take up
with, who live according to their own
humours. This represented in various
characters.
WE may still see more of the happiness of a life de
voted unto God, by considering the poor con-
trivances for happiness, and the contemptible ways
of life, which they are thrown into, who are not
under the directions of a strict piety, but seeking
after happiness by other methods.
If one looks at their lives, who live by no rule but their own
humours and fancies ; if one sees but what it is, which they call
joy, and greatness, and happiness ; if one sees how they rejoice,
and repent, change and fly from one delusion to another; one
shall find great reason to rejoice, that God hath appointed a
strait and narrow way, that leadeth unto life, and that we are
not left to the folly of our own minds, or forced to take up with
such shadows of joys and happiness, as the weakness and folly
of the world has invented. I say invented, because those things
which make up the joy and happiness of the world are mere
inventions, which have no foundation in nature and reason, are
no way the proper good or happiness of man, no way perfect
either in his body, or his mind, or carry him to his true end.
As for instance, when a man proposes to be happy in ways of
ambition, by raising himself to some imaginary heights above
other people; this is truly an invention of happiness, which has
no foundation in nature, but is as mere a cheat, of our own
making, as if a man should intend to make himself happy by
climbing up a ladder.
If a woman seeks for happiness from fine colours or spots upon
her face, from jewels and rich clothes, this is as merely an inven-
tion of happiness, as contrary to nature and reason, as if she
should propose to make herself happy, by painting a post, and